The following press release was written by Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages staff:
ALMA, QUEBEC–(Marketwire – March 31, 2009) – On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official
Languages, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of State (Agriculture), and Member of Parliament (Jonquiere-Alma), today announced funding for the Societe d’histoire du Lac-Saint-Jean.
This funding will allow the organization to present the travelling exhibition “Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Mail Order Catalogue in Canada.” The exhibition, which will run until August 30, 2009, has been on display at the Maison des batisseurs d’Alma since February 9.
“Museums are beacons for our society. Not only do they showcase the historical, scientific, and cultural heritage of a region, they also allow generations of Canadians to access this heritage and enhance their knowledge and understanding of it,” said Minister Moore. “With this support, our Government is giving residents of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean the opportunity to reconnect with their past, and is offering visitors to the region the chance to discover it.”
“We appreciate the professional work of the team from the Societe d’histoire du Lac-Saint-Jean. The exhibit on catalogue shopping being presented at the museum brings back many childhood memories. I am part of the generation for whom the arrival of the catalogue at the house each year always brought with it a great deal of excitement!” said Minister Blackburn. “I am pleased to see a piece of our regional history on display, as well as a link to Canadians in the rest of the country who, like me, used to dream with the help of these catalogues.”
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome the positive news about our request for funding to transport the exhibit ‘Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Mail Order Catalogue in Canada,'” said Danielle Larouche, Director General, Societe d’histoire du Lac-Saint-Jean. “This funding allows us to receive an exhibit originating at a major Canadian museum and to highlight the quality of our spaces and our team’s professionalism. Our visitors will also be able to discover an ambitious exhibit that is perfectly in line with the double mandate of the museum and the archival service of our institution.”
Launched by the Canadian Museum of Civilization and co-produced with the Canadian Postal Museum, the travelling exhibit “Satisfaction Guaranteed: The Mail Order Catalogue in Canada” features illustrated vintage catalogues from 1884 to 1960, and samples of some of the products they featured. Approximately 200 artifacts and historic photographs will detail the inner workings of this business, its reliance on the postal service, and the breadth of its success in Canada.
The Societe d’histoire du Lac-Saint-Jean, established in 1954, has a mandate to make accessible the various heritage aspects that fashioned the history and influenced the lives of the residents of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. It manages an archive and genealogy service, the Odyssee des Batisseurs theme park, and the Heritage Renovation Counselling Service.
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $9,988 through the Access to Heritage component of the Museum Assistance Program’s Exhibition Circulation Fund. This program of the Department of Canadian Heritage aims to preserve and present Canada’s rich and diverse heritage and provides opportunities for Canadians to access, appreciate, and enjoy collections and stories from a wide variety of heritage organizations across the country.
